ADMISSIONS OPEN FOR NEW SURREY MATHS SCHOOL
Admissions open in September 2023 for Surrey Maths School – a new state-funded specialist maths school for gifted maths students aged 16-19, located in Guildford and serving Surrey, Berkshire, Sussex, Hampshire, South East and South West London.
The school, which is set to welcome its first cohort of students in September 2024, will be delivered through a partnership between Learning Partners Academy Trust and the University of Surrey. It will be a centre of excellence for studying maths and further maths at A level, along with additional A Levels in chemistry, physics, economics and computer science.
Sahar Shillabeer and Nora Kettleborough have been appointed as Co-Heads of Surrey Maths School. They are currently Assistant Heads at King’s College London Mathematics School (KCLMS), which achieved the highest A level results in the country in 2022.
Surrey Maths School will be a gateway to accessing the world’s top universities, prestigious degree level apprenticeships and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). It aims to improve the diversity of students going on to study maths at the highest levels and has a commitment to reach students who are under-represented in STEM – in particular, female students and students who might not otherwise have the support to win places on the most competitive STEM courses post 18. The school’s location, in the centre of Guildford close to the train and bus stations and a short walk from the University of Surrey, has been chosen to facilitate student recruitment from across the South East region.
Surrey Maths School will become the eighth specialist maths school to open in England. The Government has committed to open at least one maths school in each English region, up to a maximum of 11, with each school linked to a research-intensive university with specialisms across maths and STEM subjects. As with Surrey Maths School’s partnership with the University of Surrey, the Universities of Exeter, Cambridge, Liverpool, Leeds, Lancaster, King’s College London and Imperial College London are all linked to specialist maths schools which have already opened or plan to open by 2023.
Above and Beyond A Levels
Alongside A level courses, all students at Surrey Maths School will complete the Surrey Project Qualification, developed by the University of Surrey and STEM industry partners, designed to extend problem solving skills and team building amongst students with a particular aptitude in maths.
Improving Outcomes Across the Community
Importantly, Surrey Maths School will deliver an active outreach programme, aiming to inspire students at primary, secondary schools and sixth forms across the region to develop a love for and aptitude in maths and STEM subjects. In particular, this programme will focus on schools with low attainment and progress in GCSE maths and/or a high proportion of students in receipt of free school meals. Surrey Maths School’s outreach programme launched in July 2023, with workshops delivered for 180 current year 10 students from target schools.
The school will also play a leading role in supporting the development of maths teachers and teaching in other local schools. Learning Partners Academy Trust through George Abbot School SCITT is an Ofsted Outstanding provider of Initial Teacher Training with over 20 years’ experience.
Professor Jim Al Khalili FRS, Distinguished Chair in Theoretical Physics, University of Surrey Professor of the Public Engagement in Science and host of The Life Scientific on BBC Radio 4, said:
“Meeting the challenges of climate change, tackling diseases and other public health problems, and ensuring a fairer and more secure global economy are just some of the critical areas that rely on the world developing the very best maths skills. Almost all the grand challenges facing humanity will require the most brilliant mathematical minds to be applied to them in order to find solutions. The Surrey Maths School will help develop the next generation of mathematicians and STEM specialists to join the global community of scientists, industrialists and entrepreneurs striving to make the world a better place.”
The admissions process for Surrey Maths School involves a maths aptitude test and interviews to be held in the Spring, following which conditional offers will be made subject to GCSE grades.
For details about how to apply and further information about Surrey Maths School, please visit: surreymathsschool.co.uk
LOOKING FOR MORE THINGS TO DO IN SURREY?
CHECK OUT THESE GUIDES TO GOING OUT